World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences Vol:7, No:11, 2013

Consumption Pattern and Dietary Practices of Pregnant Women in Odeda Local Government Area of Ademuyiwa, M. O., Sanni, S. A.

pregnant woman and sometimes causing serious problems [3]. Abstract—The importance of maternal nutritional practices Also, unsatisfactory maternal nutrition has been reported to during pregnancy cannot be overemphasized. This paper assessed the result from inadequate dietary intakes during pregnancy which consumption pattern and dietary practices of 50 pregnant women have been attributed to ignorance and superstition. selected using purposive sampling technique from three health care The well-being of mother and the newborn infant is greatly centres (Primary Health Care Centre, Obantoko; Primary Health Care Centre Alabata; and the General Hospital, Odeda) in Odeda Local determined by the nutrition of the expectant mother during Government Area of Ogun State, . Structured questionnaire pregnancy and it further influences health of the child during was used to elicit information on socioeconomic status, consumption childhood and adulthood. According to [4], spontaneous pattern and dietary practices. Data were analyzed using the Statistical abortion, impaired fetal growth, poor pregnancy weight gain, Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, 17). The results indicated that learning impairment and behavioral problems of the offspring about 58% of the pregnant women were below the age of 30 while are caused by inadequate nutrition during pregnancy. The 42% were ages 28-40 years. Only 16% had tertiary education while (38%) had secondary education, 52% earn income through petty majority of low birth weight (LBW) infants in developing trading. On food intake, 52% got their energy source from rice on a countries are due to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR i.e. daily basis, followed by pap (38%) and eko (34%). For protein less than the 10th percentile weight for gestational age), while intake, 36% consumed bean cake on a daily basis while 66% most LBW infants in developed countries are due to preterm consumed moinmoin 2-3 times a week. Orange (48%) and Green birth [5]. In developing countries, the most important Leafy vegetable (40%) accounted for the mostly consumed fruit and determinants of IUGR stem primarily from the mother’s poor vegetable on daily basis. In terms of animal origin, fish (76%), meat (58%) and eggs (30%) were consumed daily, while chicken and snail health and nutritional status [6]. were consumed occasionally by 54% and 42%, respectively. Forty- Thus, in the course of pregnancy, the quantity and quality of six percent (46%) of the pregnant women eat more than three times nourishment is of particular importance. Maternal malnutrition daily; while 60% of the women eat outside their homes with 42% and other health hazards are serious problems facing respondents eat out lunch and only two percent least eaten out dinner. developing nations including Nigeria. In Nigeria, malnutrition It is important to increase in awareness campaign to sensitize the is prevalent, fertility rates are high and women enter into child pregnant women on the importance of good nutrition especially fruits, vegetables and dairy products. bearing at an early age, therefore giving birth to many off springs. Dietary practices play a significant role in Keywords—Consumption Pattern, Dietary Practices, Pregnant, determining the long-term health status of both the expectant Women, Nigeria. mother and the growing fetus. Improper dietary practices of pregnant women have apparently led to increased rates of still- I. INTRODUCTION births, premature birth, low birth weight, maternal and REGNANCY is one of the most critical and unique period prenatal death. Pattern of food consumption varies invariably Pin a woman’s life cycle. It is regarded as a “welcome among pregnant women residing in urban and rural areas. event” for successful womanhood. A woman’s body changes Some primary health care physicians and obstetricians are not dramatically during pregnancy; hence there is a strong need to aware of the dietary and over-the-counter medication intake balance these changes with an adequate and nutritious diet. practices of their patients and thus lack the information needed Pregnancy is often accompanied by a variety of nutritionally to help guide them. Some nutrient deficiencies can be dealt linked problems with symptoms that are sometimes very with by strengthening the training and practice of antenatal International Science Index, Medical and Health Sciences Vol:7, No:11, 2013 waset.org/Publication/17372 unpleasant and difficult to tolerate [1]. Cravings and care providers, enabling them to dispense supplementation aversions, which refer to a strong desire and strong dislike for such as folic acid, calcium and vitamin tablets. Assessment of certain food respectively, are common during pregnancy with common practices of food, drink, and medication intake complications such as nausea and vomiting [2], [3]. These during pregnancy and the associated effects will inform the complications may cause not only discomfort during direction of preventative practice and interventions that will pregnancy but also interfere with the dietary intake of the benefit populations of pregnant women and their offspring. This study was therefore carried out to generate information on the consumption pattern and dietary practices of pregnant Ademuyiwa, M. O. and Sanni, S. A. are with the Nutrition and Dietetics women in Odeda local Government area of Ogun State and Department, Federal University of Agriculture, , Nigeria provide basic information that would assist nutrition/health (Correspondence: e-mail: [email protected]).

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workers to help pregnant women make a better choice of food ages 28 and 40. Virtually all (98%) of the women were during pregnancy and other helpful intervention. Nigerian while just 2% were Ghanaian. The subjects population was predominantly Yoruba (72%), 6% were Igbo, II. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2% were Hausa, while the rest (20%) were from other tribes. The study was conducted in Odeda Local Government, In terms of religion, 78% were Christian of various Ogun State, Nigeria. Ogun State was created in 1976 and is in denominations while 22% practiced Islam, similar result was South-Western Nigeria. The State is named after the Ogun also reported by [7] and [8]. The study revealed that the River which runs right across it from north to south and is respondents belonged to the two major family structures in strategically located; bordered to the east by Ondo State and to Nigeria – Polygamy and monogamy. Majority of them the north by Oyo and Osun States. Its border with the belonged to the latter while the rest belonged to the former. Republic of Benin, to the west, makes it an access route to the For educational background, 42% had only primary education, expansive market of the Economic Community of West 38% completed secondary education, and 16% had their African States (ECOWAS), to the south by Lagos, the former tertiary education while 4% had other forms of education. Capital of Nigeria, and which still remains the commercial Majority of the women were traders (52%), also in accordance nerve centre of the country and indeed the West Africa Sub- with the report of [8], 8% were farmers, 6% were teachers, 4% region and also by the Atlantic Ocean. Odeda Local were civil servants while 30% practiced other forms of Government Area is one of the twenty Local Government occupation. Half of the women (52%) earn daily income, 18% Areas in Ogun State. The headquarters is in Odeda village, a were weekly income earners, 14% earn monthly income and place situated along Abeokuta-Ibadan road. The Local 16% earn no income. Government area occupies an area of 1263.43m2 with an Pattern of consumption of cereals & grains, roots & tubers, estimated population of 217,000 according to the 1991 legumes & pulses and oil seeds by the pregnant women is population census. The local government shares boundary presented in Table II. For the category of foods under root and with Ibarapa and Iddo local government areas of Oyo state in tuber crops, the table shows that high percentage of the the north and east, while in the south west with Abeokuta respondents consume Rice daily. This could be because rice is south and local government residents. The a major staple in Nigeria. However, high rate of rice people of the local government are predominantly Egbas. consumption by pregnant women in Nigeria in this study is Odeda local government is made up of 860 villages and contrary to the findings of [9], who reported this food hamlets and urban areas. The main language of the people is commodity to be one of the most avoided foods of selected Yoruba while there are few non-Yorubas. Some tribes in the studied pregnant women in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. village include: Kotonou from Benin republic; Togo and Also, in this food category, part of the daily consumed foods is Egede. Pap (38%) and Eko (34%). The study was carried out at the Primary Health Care The table also revealed that higher percentage (56%) of the Centre, Obantoko, Alabata and the General Hospital, Odeda, studied pregnant women never consumed wheat. The reason located in Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State. A for this could be attributed to the lack of awareness on the total of 50 pregnant women were used for the study. They nutritional benefits of wheat consumption to the pregnant were selected by random sampling from the three health women. On a daily basis, bean cake is largely consumed by centres. The subjects were interviewed by trained interviewers the respondents more than the rest food in the category of privately in English language and the local language (Yoruba) legumes, pulses and oil seeds. The reason given was because at the health facilities during the antenatal care. Pre tested of the ease of preparation of the food and because its questionnaire was used to collect data such as socio consumption goes well with pap or Eko. Moinmoin is another demographic, age, ethnic group, tribe, religion, etc. Dietary food in this category that the pregnant women (66%) intake of the subjects was assessed using the 24 hour dietary. consumed 2-3 times per week. Although, its production has a Food models such as household measures like tin, bowl and similar process as bean cake but it takes longer time and not as cup were used to assist memory and portion size of foods easy as bean bake. One major preference they have for taken. Data of frequency of consumption of food items were moinmoin over bean cake was that it can be stored in the estimated, using the food frequency questionnaire, containing refrigerator after production and eaten few days after. But this the list of food items and the frequency of consumption. cannot be done with bean cake as it has to be consumed the International Science Index, Medical and Health Sciences Vol:7, No:11, 2013 waset.org/Publication/17372 Processed data was analyzed using Statistical Package for same day of preparation. The table shows that higher percent Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. Descriptive statistics were (68%) of the respondents never consume Gbegiri, a soup used to get the percentages and frequencies of variables used prepared from beans. The reason given being that it is not a in this study. menu native to the people in the study area. Table III gives the consumption pattern of fruits and III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION vegetables. All the studied pregnant women reported eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day. From the table, it is Table I shows the demographic characteristics of the obvious that on a daily basis, green leafy vegetables and studied women. Majority (58%) of the women were between orange were the most consumed. The study of [10] on the the age range of 18 and 27 years while 42% were between consumption habits of pregnant women in California showed

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that orange, is the second most commonly consumed fruit, is More than half (60%) of the women eat out during in accordance with the findings of this work. According to pregnancy and this was attributed to the fact that more than some of the respondents, orange is consumed daily because of half of them are traders, with their trading centre away from its high vitamin C content, availability almost all year round their homes. From the table, on a weekly basis, very few ate and affordability. Green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins out daily (2%) and twice in a week (6%). Forty percent and minerals. The least consumed of the fruits and vegetables responded to eating out three times in a week and 42% ate out on a daily basis were cherry (4%) and cucumber (4%). The occasionally. The meal ate out by larger percent (42%) of the reason given by some of the pregnant women studied was that women is Lunch, followed by Breakfast (16%). Very few cherry consumption gives them severe nausea and vomiting (2%) ate dinner outside their home. A similar finding was while some of them lack the basic nutritional importance of reported by [12]. The reason for this was not unconnected cucumber and see leafy vegetables as a better alternative to it. from the same reason stated above. The reason stated above for low daily consumption of Fast foods are foods that usually contain high levels of fat cucumber could also be responsible for the high percent (56%) and salt. A prenatal diet high in this kind of food could pose of the respondents to have never consumed it. danger to the developing fetus. Maternal diets high in fat have Pattern of consumption of beverages and foods of animal been associated with increased likelihoods of postnatal diet- origin is shown in Table IV. According to [9], milk and milk induced obesity in offspring, and have the potential to products are an important part of the diet because of their influence epigenetic markers leading to altered postnatal gene excellent balance of nutrients, and particularly the calcium and expression and eating behavior [13], [14]. This study revealed riboflavin content. Also, they provide some of or practically that most of the respondents do not take snacks after breakfast all other essential nutrients in well-balanced amounts and in (70%), lunch (82%) and dinner (94%). However, of the easily assimilated forms. Of the beverage listed in this study, frequency of responses to taking snacks after the three meals, milk is the one that has higher percent (32%) of daily higher frequency was recorded for “after breakfast” among the consumption. Fifty percent of the respondent reported its women. consumption 2-3 times per week. For the consumption of Milo and Bournvita, 44% and 30% of the respondents consumed IV. CONCLUSION them 2-3 times daily, respectively. Only 2% consumed The present study shows the influence of low level of Bournvita on a daily basis and 16% for Milo. The reason for education and the type of job for income earning on the food the avoidance of consuming these two beverages on a daily consumption pattern and dietary practices of the respondents. basis by some of the respondents was for the fear of big size It was obvious that most of the women avoided the fetus which could result in difficult labour at child birth. consumption of some fruits and vegetables because of the lack Of the foods of animal origin, higher percent of the of basic information on the nutritional benefits of such respondents consumed fish (76%) and meat (58%) on a daily commodities. Some of the foods, such as rice, meat, fish) basis and none of them reported never consuming the two avoided (aversion) by some studied pregnant women from during pregnancy. The reason given for these choices was literatures were not however avoided by the women in this because they are both good sources of protein and some other study. Eating out among the respondents is quite high as data vital nutrients required for healthy pregnancy and successful shows that about half of the women ate out more than 3 times suckle of infant. This is however contrary to the findings a day and the meal mostly eaten out was lunch and this is reported by [9] and [11], who reported meat and fish as part of attributed to the type of job they do. This practice could have a the commonly avoided foods by larger percent of the consequent effect on the pregnant woman and the fetus as the respondents in their studies. Consumption of meat organs, hygienic status of the food eaten out could not be ascertained. chicken, turkey and prawn on a daily basis is low compared to In conclusion, the importance of eating a healthy diet low in their consumption monthly and occasionally. As shown in the energy-dense and nutrient low foods so as to lower future table, none of the pregnant women consumed snail daily, generations’ risk of obesity and stress conditions should be about half (42%) consumed it occasionally and 32% never stressed to pregnant women in the course of antenatal care. consumed it. A dietary practice in terms of meal frequency and snacking pattern of the respondents is presented in Table V. Majority International Science Index, Medical and Health Sciences Vol:7, No:11, 2013 waset.org/Publication/17372 (46%) ate more than three times a day, 38% ate just three times while the rest respondents ate once or twice daily. The meal frequency of the pregnant women during pregnancy was different from their practice before pregnancy, as about 54% reported eating three times daily and just 28% ate more than three times daily (data not show). This finding is in accordance with those of [11] and [12] who also reported difference in frequency of meal consumption before and during pregnancy of women in Accra and Kumasi, both in Ghana, respectively.

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TABLE I TABLE II SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS (N=50) PATTERN OF CONSUMPTION OF CEREALS & GRAINS, ROOTS & TUBERS, Variables Frequency Percentage (%) LEGUMES & PULSES AND OIL SEEDS (N=50) 2-3 Age (years) Variables Daily times a Monthly Occasionally Never 18-27 29 58.0 week 28-40 21 42.0 Cereals and grains Nationality Rice 52 42 - 6 - Nigerian 49 98.0 Wheat 18 8 - 18 56 Ghanaian 1 2.0 Bread 26 48 2 22 2 Ethnic group Maize 14 20 26 32 8 Yoruba 36 72.0 Eko 34 36 2 16 4 Igbo 3 6.0 Semolina 6 34 8 36 16 Hausa 1 2.0 Pap 38 30 4 22 6 Others 10 20.0 Roots and Tubers Religion Yam 8 64 2 24 2 Christianity 39 78.0 Cocoyam - 14 - 26 60 Islam 11 22.0 Porridge 6 22 8 34 30 Family structure Fufu 14 42 4 28 12 Monogamy 44 88.0 Amala 22 48 6 18 8 Polygamy 6 12.0 Lafun 22 30 6 14 29 Educational level Eba 30 44 6 18 2 Primary 21 42.0 Gari 28 28 - 24 20 Secondary 19 38.0 Legumes, pulses and oil seeds Tertiary 8 16.9 Adalu - 2 26 38 34 Others 2 4.0 Bean cake 36 46 - 28 10 Occupation Moin-moin 10 66 4 16 4 Civil servant 3 4.0 Gbegiri - 6 - 26 68 Trading 26 52.0 Melon 10 70 2 8 10 Farming 4 8.0 Apon 4 22 6 22 46 Teaching 3 6.0 Others 15 30.0 TABLE III Income PATTERN OF CONSUMPTION OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS (N=50) Monthly 7 14.0 2-3 times Variables Daily Monthly Occasionally Never Weekly 9 18.0 a week Daily 26 52.0 Green leafy 40 52 - 6 2 None 8 16.0 vegetable Okra 8 58 2 12 20 Ewedu 22 50 - 8 20 Orange 48 22 - 22 8 Banana 14 18 2 10 6 Pineapple 6 19 1 15 9 Water melon 9 19 1 14 7 Cashew 1 8 1 27 13 Cherry 2 4 1 29 14 Pawpaw 8 9 - 26 7 Apple 3 19 1 17 10 Cucumber 2 9 1 10 28 Garden egg 8 22 3 9 8 Carrot 3 19 3 12 13

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TABLE IV [8] E.O. Ojofeitimi, P.O. Ogunjuyibo, R.A. Sanusi, E.O. Orji, A. Alonto and PATTERN OF CONSUMPTION OF BEVERAGES AND FOODS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN S.A. Isasu, “Poor Dietary Intake of Energy and Retinol among Pregnant (N=50) women: Implication for pregnancy outcome in South West Nigeria”. 2-3 times a Pak. J. Nut., 2008, vol 7(3): pp. 480-484. Variables Daily Monthly Occasionally Never week [9] C. N. M. Nyaruhucha, “Food cravings, aversions and pica among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania”. Tanzania Journal of Milk 32 50 2 8 8 Health Research, 2009, vol 11, pp. 1. Milo 16 44 - 22 18 [10] E. Santiago Sarah, Grace, H. Park and J. Kelly Huffman. “Consumption Bournvita 2 30 6 36 26 habits of pregnant women and implications for developmental biology: a Teabags 8 22 2 40 28 survey of predominantly Hispanic women in California”. Nutrition Journal, 12:91 doi: 2013, 10.1186/1475-2891-12-91. Fish 76 24 - - - [11] A. Koryo-Dabrah, A. Christina Nti and R. Adanu. “Dietary Practices and Meat 58 36 - 6 - Nutrient Intakes of Pregnant Women in Accra, Ghana”. Current Meat Research Journal Biological Sciences 2012, vol 4(4): pp. 358-365. 22 32 2 26 18 organs [12] M. A. Nyangasa, “Nutrition status of Ghanaian women with young Chicken 12 20 2 54 12 children dietary intake, anthropometric and life style data”. A report of Masters degree research work. University of Ghana. 2011. Turkey 12 16 4 38 30 [13] K. L. K. Tamashiro, et al. “Prenatal stress or high-fat diet increases Egg 30 50 2 18 - susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in rat offspring”. Diabetes, 2009, Snail - 20 6 42 32 vol 58(5):1116-1125. Prawn 8 32 12 28 20 [14] Z. Vucetic, J. Kimmel, K. Totoki, E. Hollenbeck and M. Teresa Reyes. “Maternal high-fat diet alters methylation and gene expression of

dopamine and opioid-related genes”. Endocrinology, 2010, vol 151(10): TABLE V pp. 4756-4764. DIETARY PRACTICES OF RESPONDENTS (N=50) No of times they eat in a day Percentage (%) Once 2 Twice 14 Thrice 38 More than thrice 46 Eat out Yes 60 No 40 Times they eat out Daily 2 Twice a week 6 More than twice a week 40 Occasionally 42 Meals they eat out Breakfast 16 Lunch 42 Dinner 2 Snacks consumption after meal Yes No After breakfast 30 70 After Lunch 18 82 After dinner 6 94

REFERENCES [1] M. Doerr, “Morning sickness, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy”: http:// www.storknet.com/complications/ morningsickness/nausea.htm) 2001. Accessed on 26/08/2006. [2] A.R.P. Walker, J.J. Walker, M. Verardi, and C. Walker, “Nausea and vomiting, cravings and aversions during pregnancy in South African women”. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1985, vol 92: pp. 484-489. [3] C. D. Caplan, “Evolutionary causes and importance of pregnancy International Science Index, Medical and Health Sciences Vol:7, No:11, 2013 waset.org/Publication/17372 sickness”: (http://www.geogle.com/ derekeqplan.htm), 2001. Accessed on 26/08/2006. [4] J. E. Harding, “The nutritional basis of the fetal origins of adult disease”. Int. J. Epidemiol, 2001, vol 30: pp. 15-23. [5] U. Ramakrishnan, “Nutrition and low birth weight: from research to practice”. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, vol 79 (1): pp. 17-21. [6] T. Wardlaw, A. Blanc \and E. Ahman, United Nations Children Fund and World Health Organisation. Low Birth Weight: Country, regional and global estimates, New York, 2004. [7] Demissie1 Tsegaye, Nelson Muroki and Wamboi Kogi-Makau. “Food taboos among pregnant women in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia” Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998, vol 12 (1): pp. 45-49.

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